This one is a new one I tried this week for the first time.
We were invited to our neighbours last evening for dinner. I offered to bring something, and was asked to bring a salad.
At first I thought I would just bring a regular tossed salad, or a Caesar Salad - but that is same old, same old - so to Pinterest I went.
I choose a salad called "The Best Classic Chopped Salad" posted by Melanie F. of nutritiouseats.com .
It's a bit more time consuming to make than a regular salad - but well worth the time and effort that goes into making it. If you have to take a salad to a Pot Luck or just want a nice dinner salad, that you could use as an entry itself - here's the one to try.
2 Romaine ( 8-10 cups finely shredded/chopped)
3/4 cup diced tomatoes (or 1 cup grape tomatoes)
1/2 cup finely diced red onion ( or 1/4 of a medium onion)
2 avocados, small dice
3 hard boiled eggs, fine chopped
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
a few tablespoons of Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl ( Romaine through blue cheese). When ready to serve, stir in Bacon and toss with dressing. You will have left over dressing.
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 teaspoon honey or Agave
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
In a jar combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil while whisking with a small whisk. Place on lid and shake well until combined. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
Shake well before using.
NOTES:
I couldn't find any Blue cheese in the smaller country stores out here, so I substituted Herbed Garlic Feta cheese, and I did buy an avocado, even chopped it up, but made the mistake of popping it in my mouth to try it - and the rest went in the trash... for some reason I really don't like them. I find them tasteless and mushy...
I made the Balsamic vinegar dressing but found it a bit strong, and because this salad was intended for a family including 4 little boys ages 3-8, I did not toss the salad ahead of time.
Instead I took along a some Creamy Poppyseed ( for the boys) and some Greek with feta, for the adults.
The salad was amazing, my huge bowl of salad vanished - everyone loved it.
Special thanks to nutritiouseats.com for the recipe.
